The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-12-29


her face when she was close upon the
two men. Then, however, he saw it
distinctly and she raised her startled
eyes to his.
Lethbridge had sprung forward and
opened the door for her. She went
rapidly out with a slight inclination
of the head. Lethbridge had aheight-
ened color on his face.
When they had gone back into the
library Maskelyne, standing with his
back to the light, said:
That lady who passed out looks
astonishingly like a Miss Flora
Wade"
at is a Miss Wade" Lethbridge
took up a book and laid it down
again. "She is q nursery governess to
two of my younger sisters"
'The Miss Wade who was out West
few years ago." said Maskelyre,
after q pause, twas an heiress."
"Flora Wade was an heiress until a
year ago-yes. | suppose you have
heard the story?"
"Out on the frontier one hears moth
ing" said Maskelyne, dryly.
"No? Well, it was nothing new.
Wade made his money by a lucky
stroke, you know, or a series of lucky
strokes, and he lost it by one unlucky
one. Then he blew his brains out,
more than anything else, / suspect,
because there were well-founded sus-
picious that all his transactions had
not been perfectly legitimate. The
two girls were with an aunt. Miss
Wade had been taken abroad, and
had refused, it was understood, du.
cal coronet. For two seasons she
led everything before her. When
the change came she left
the aunt, whose health had suddenly
lin consequence of these changes) be-
come too delicate for the support and
care of two young girls. Miss Wade
had had q brilliant education, but,
passed under review with reference to
such elements in it as could be turned
to practical account, it appeared that
there was very little Miss Wade could
do to support herself and her young
sister. She could be nursery govern
ess, however, and that is what she is
now"
There was silence between the two
men.
Allen Lethbridge took, hesitatingly,
a step forward.
81 don't mind telling you," he said,
leaning his arm against the mantel,
"that / have an immense admiration
for Flora Wade. If she will marry me
she shall be my wife,
The door opened, admitting Mrs.
Lethbridge and her Oldest daughter.
"Oh Mr.. Maskelyne, / hope you will
stay to dinner with us?" cried the la
ly Hospitality.
"Thanks. am sorry. have an
engagement"
Maskelyne' went out, and the en-
gagement proved a roaming of the
streets until far into the night.
Against the compunction pleading
in all his nerves for Flora, awaking
and throbbing with the opening of a
| wound he had thought cicatrized and
quiescent, he had arrayed fierce argu-
ments out of the elements of scorn
and resentment he had been harbor-
ing and accumulating through these
four years past in his soul. What if
misfortune had fallen upon her?
Would that change her? Would that
make true woman in day of one
who hitherto had lived only for the
fimsy vanities of the world and her
own self-love? Why, he kept urging
upon himself. brutally, she had SEEM
ed blooming enough when he caught
that one glimpse Of her in Mrs. Leth-
bridges hall. She was not changed
SO very much in appearance by mis-
fortune as might be expected. It was
| proper, of course, that she should
look a little demure and depressed.
She was a good actress and she
would be likely to play her part well.
Was not her reward within her grasp
already? Allen Lethbridge's admira-
ton and intentions were probably
perfectly clear to her. That was the
way out OF her difficulties the
easy path of matrimony.
ceived goaded him to brutal injustice,
crying down with high voice the ap-
peal of every other sentiment. He
went home at last and threw himself
on his bed, bruised and sore in all his
members from the conflict in his soul.
He did not return to the Leth-
bridges, and he kept out OF Aliens
way.
One day, about u week later, in
passing o picture gallery, ne wander
ed in. There was one other person
only in the gallery; lady in black,
with her back to the door. Maske-
lyme stood still. with a sudden pang.
In a moment the lady turned her
head slightly and Maskelyne saw that
his heart had not deceived him.
Flora was unconscious that she
was no longer alone. In the silence
and secluded remoteness of this cur
tanned room the burden carried day
after day dropped away from her in
an interval of blessed calm. She sat
with her hands clasped in her lap.
All the worn lines of her delicate pro-
file were revealed to Maskelyne's eyes
now. Not changed! Good Godl
He stood there devouring
her face with his glance
and lump ached in his throat. Not
changed! She suddenly put up small
hand in little shabby black glove
and brushed tear hastily from her
cheek. At the same moment, as
though afraid of her weakness, she
started to her feet. Maskelyne, SIM
ulraneously, had taken several steps
forward
They stood and looked at each 9th
er for one instant, as people who have
parted estranged on this earth may
meet again and look at each other in
some other world where misunder-
standings and mysteries are made
clear.
Then Flora, with another glance OF
her worn eyes, murmured "Good.
bye"
She was going toward the door.
He followed her.
"May not walk home with your"
He had small consciousness OF what
he was saying.
It was q humble place. She made
no apology for it. She did not ask
him to sit down. She stood as
though she expected every moment
he would go.
In drawing off her gloves one ofthem
fell to the ground. Maskelyne stoop-